Southeast Iceland Viking Journey
by Icarus Rising ehf · Sightseeing day tours · East Iceland
- Luxury
- Skip the queue
- Can be tailored
from €1,835.2 per person
Next departure: Thu 22 Oct
1 / 14
Duration
12 hours
Difficulty
Easy
Season
All year
Starts in
Vik
Pickup
Hotel pickup included
Starts at
Skógar, Skógar
Guide
Guided in English, French
Departs
09:00
Minimum age
12
Cancellation
Cancelling costs 10% of the price within 730 days of departure.
About this experience
This exclusive one-day tour explores the hidden history of Viking Age Iceland in the southeast, shedding light on a region rich with archaeological wonders, folklore, and Norse heritage. This immersive journey combines visits to ancient caves, traditional turf houses, and a reconstructed Viking village—all while unraveling the intriguing mix of legend and history that shaped early Iceland. Perfect for private groups or small tours, this experience offers a unique look into Iceland’s pre-Viking and Viking eras.
You will experience:
- Archaeological Exploration: Experience Iceland’s prehistory and Viking heritage through historical caves, ancient turf houses, and a reconstructed village.
- Guided by a Viking Scholar: Led by Dr. Grégory Cattaneo, whose expertise in Norse and medieval Icelandic studies brings depth and authenticity to each site.
- Legendary Locations: Discover the myths and stories connected to sites like Rútshellir Cave, where history and folklore merge.
- Kvernufoss and Skógafoss, two breathtaking waterfalls in South Iceland, are steeped in Viking lore, with Skógafoss famously believed to hide a buried chest of treasure placed by a Viking settler behind its cascading veil.
- Viking Village Immersion: Walk through a recreated Viking village at Stokksnes and gain a unique perspective on the layout and lifestyle of Norse settlers.
- Optional Viking Lunch in a Cave: Add a Viking-inspired meal to fully immerse yourself in the culinary culture of Iceland’s past, with Dr. Cattaneo providing insights into Viking-era food traditions and daily life.
This one-day Southeast Iceland tour offers a distinctive glimpse into Viking Age Iceland, blending archaeology, mythology, and historical insights for an unforgettable journey into the past.
*Order subject to conditions on the day.
Description from the operator, Icarus Rising ehf. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Where you go
- Rútshellir Caves: Iceland’s Prehistory and the Legend of Rútur
- Viking-Era Artefacts and Turf Houses
- Kvernufoss & Skogafoss Waterfalls
- Viking Lunch in a Viking Cave
- Viking Village at Stokksnes – A Reconstructed Viking Village on the Shores of Mount Vestrahorn
Included
- Private Experience
- Cultural Viking Driver Guide and Photographer
- True Exploration through the Hidden History of the Viking Age
- 10 Shot Photo Package included
- 12+ Hour Adventure including Archaeological Exploration of Viking Age Dwelling Caves, Viking Turf Houses, Kvernufoss & Skogafoss Waterfalls, A Viking Village Immersion and a Viking Lunch with a Viking Age Scholar.
- Viking-style Lunch consisting of local food, lamb and local vegetables.
- Refreshments on board.
Not included
- Food and Drinks
Good to know
- Warm layers, waterproof jacket and pants, hats and gloves and comfortable footwear suitable for uneven terrain and walking short distances.
- Drinks and snacks.
- You must be 12 years or older to participate in this tour.
- Kvernufoss and Skógafoss Waterfall and Archaeological Exploration: You will get wet so it’s suggested you wear waterproof boots.
- IPJ reserves the right to modify the schedule if needed in regard to photo shooting locations due to weather or other circumstances.
- Pickup and Drop off are exclusively from the Southern Region Area (outside of this general area would be an additional cost).
- The length of each day and the order in which you visit these attractions can vary depending on weather and road conditions.
- Photo packages may sometimes take more or less than 14 days to edit. This is just our average turnaround time.
- Be aware that if there is a request to have specific photos from the day, advance notice via email is required before the editing process begins.
- The order of the day is subject to change and the availability on the day. You will have 1 Viking Meal with our Viking Age Scholar that may be Lunch or Dinner Included.
Cancellation for this tour
Cancelling costs 10% of the price within 730 days of departure. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.
If the weather cancels this tour
Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is a forecast the operator judges unsafe. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.
- 1Icarus Rising ehf decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
- 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
- 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.
What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until the cutoff shown above, the operator's policy after that.
Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →
Why this one and not the cheaper one?
The nearest cheaper South Coast Waterfalls, Glacier & Black Sand Beach Tour from BusTravel Iceland is €117 — €1718 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.
| Icarus Rising ehf · €1835 | BusTravel Iceland · €117 | |
|---|---|---|
| How long it runs | 12 hours | 10 hours |
| Changing your mind | Not stated | Free until 24 h before |
The €1718 buys you 2 more hours out. Whether that is worth it is your call — but that is what the difference is.
Sold out on your date?
Seats come back — a cancellation, or the operator adding a vehicle. Tell us the date and we will check once a day and email you if one opens. One email, then we delete the address; nothing else is ever sent to it.
Who this is not for
- Not for families with children under 12 — the operator will not take them, even with a parent.
- Not a good fit if you want a relaxed day: 12 hours is a long time on the road, most of it spent getting there and back.
Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.
Why we list it
Icarus Rising ehf is one of 204 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →
Read before you book
- Stokksnes and Vestrahorn: worth the detour?Yes if you're sleeping in Höfn and have a car: 15 minutes, a small gate fee, an hour on the dunes. Not worth a private tour to get there.
- Sightseeing flight in Iceland: plane or helicopter?A small plane costs about half as much per minute as a helicopter and covers more ground. Pay for the helicopter only when you want the landing.
Reviews from our travellers
Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.
Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.
Hotels
Where to stay for this tour
From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Vík í Mýrdal, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.
One checkout, any number of operators
Rankings are not for sale
203 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted
If it falls short, we fix it
Pairs well with
Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €63 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.
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